Research at MSI

MSI coordinates world-class interdisciplinary research at Monash University to find new solutions to today’s climate change and sustainability challenges. MSI undertakes and participates in a wide range of research programs and initiatives and supports postgraduate research in sustainability-related areas.

In addition, MSI can assist Monash researchers and external stakeholders to develop or undertake sustainability-related research at Monash by:

Assembling, facilitating and coordinating multi-disciplinary research teams
Developing research projects, research centres and ongoing collaborations
Undertaking research within MSI
Advising government and industry
Making connections between people, both within Monash and between Monash and external stakeholders
Providing advice and assistance to faculties on recruitment of sustainability research practitioners

This covers all forms of research across the sustainability spectrum, including theoretical, experimental and technological, policy development, needs and impact assessments, and evaluation and action research.

Research Programs & Initiatives

	Centre for Water Sensitive Cities The Centre for Water Sensitive aims to play a pivotal role in transforming Australian cities and their communities in ways that will help them live in harmony with natural water environments and become resilient to current and future challenges.
	International WaterCentre The International WaterCentre is a joint venture of four leading Australian universities that provides education and training, applied research and expert services to promote a whole-of-water cycle approach and develop capacity in integrated water resource management around the world.
	Natural Resource Management in Asia in Response to Climate Change The projects in this AusAID-funded portfolio focus on bringing together multidisciplinary, multi-stakeholder teams to develop climate change adaptation and mitigation policies and natural resource management frameworks in South and South East Asia.
	BehaviourWorks Australia BehaviourWorks Australia works collaboratively to build understanding and develop applied approaches to influence the everyday decisions that are integral to living in a sustainable world. It's mission is to be an internationally-recognised behaviour change research centre for environmental sustainability.
	Australian Bushfire Arson Prevention Initiative A partnership of MSI, the Monash Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science and Bond University, established with funding from RACV Insurance, which aims to advance national action on bushfire arson prevention.
	Climate Change, Biodiversity and Health This program aims to identify and explore new and emerging research questions and build knowledge related to the health consequences of climate change and the decline in biodiversity.
	Systemic and Adaptive Water Governance A program exploring the practical and theoretical robustness of current water and climate change governance regimes and develops new models and strategies to make future governance fit-for-purpose in a climate-changing world. Contact: Professor Ray Ison
	The Interface between Social and Environmental Sustainability This program looks at how social and environmental sustainability are inter-related and at how policy solutions would maximise outcomes in both areas. It focuses on policy and community engagement in climate change mitigation and adaptation; the provision of land transport and its interconnections with social inclusion; and the measurement of social and environmental sustainability. Contact: Dr Janet Stanley
	Sustainable Cities Program This program seeks to better understand the many challenges facing urban form, especially those relating to climate change. In particular, it aims to identify responses to the challenges of significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining a city that is inclusive, accessible and has high liveability.
	Postgraduate Research Unit MSI offers the opportunity to undertake a Research Masters or PhD on an issue related to sustainability.
	Indigenous Communities and Climate Change MSI is working with the Yorta Yorta to learn from indigenous natural resources management in the Barmah-Millewa forests to determine how the ecological, cultural, legal and policy environment of the region informs and understanding of the competing demands on water resources in the Murray-Darling Basin. Contact: Professor Dave Griggs
	Developing Victoria's Geothermal Energy Resource With support from the Monash Sustainability Institute, a small scale prototype has been built and demonstrated proof of concept by producing an impressive 800W of electrical power.
	Uniwater A partnership of Melbourne and Monash Universities that acts as an incubator/hub for research activities in water, with an emphasis on complex, inter-disciplinary activities.